Combination container and ejector



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V., F. GREAvEs comsmvnon conmmm AND mscwoa Filed March 8, 193a March 26; 1940.

6 IN V TOR.

BY 64w 6%.

A TTORNEY March 26, F. GREAVES COMBINATION CONTAINER AND EJ'ECTDR Filed March 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l u u E 2 ngggrox halfic? ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,194,823 COMBINATION CONTAINER AND EJECTOR Valentine F. Greaves, Oakland, Calif. Application March 8, 1938, Serial No. 194,591

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination container and ejector for stereopticon slides and like devices.

With the advent of the so-called Kodo- Chrome film for color photography, and the revival of public interest in stereopticon projection, especially the 2-inch color slides, the desirability of some improved method of storing slides in containers convenient both for transportation and use on a projecting table or stand has become apparent, as the ordinary box, with partitions for the reception of the slides which are in common use at the present time, is not entirely satisfactory in the dark or semi-darkness usually incidental to projecting conditions, as it is diflicult to eject the slides that are to be projected, and to lift them out of their respective compartments and to replace them. The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the operation and construction of containers of the character described; to provide a container for slides or similar articles which will be convenient for storage and transportation purposes and which is provided with means for selecting the slides in sequence or in a prearranged schedule of selection; to provide means whereby the prearranged slides are manually raised or elevated one by one to a position where they are easily and readily removed; and further, to provide elevating or ejecting means which automatically raise or elevate the next slide to be projected when the last slide removed from the projector is returned to the container.

The combination container and ejector is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the type of container shown in Fig. 5, said view being partially in section:

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the partition members;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an ordinary slide;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central vertical section showing the simplest form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing another form of the invention:

Fig. 6 is also a similar section showing still another form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical longitudinal section showing difierent manners in which the slides may be arranged in the compartments of the container;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. '7, showing the arrangement of a plurality of slides or similar articles in each compartment; and

PATENT OFFICE Fig. 9 is a plan view of one end of the formof the invention shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, it will be noted that a boxshaped container is disclosed which consists of a bottom section 2, sides 3-3,, and ends 4 and 5. Extending crosswise of the container is a plurality of partition members 6 forming a series of compartments 1 which are provided for the reception of slides or similar articles, such as indicated at 8. One of the main features of the present invention is to provide means for the ready removal and reinsertion of the slides in the respective compartments, and particularly when projecting pictures in a dark, or at least semidark, room Where visibility is exceptionally poor, and where the sense of touch will have to be more or less depended upon to locate the slides to be projected. To accomplish this, a flexible member in the form of a ribbon 9 is employed. The ribbon is secured as at IU (see Fig.4) to one end of the container, and passes down and under the slide ll, then up and over the partition 6 and then under the next slide, in zigzag formation, until the opposite end 5 of the container is reached. At this point the ribbon passes out through a slot I 2 in the end 5 of the container, then through a clamp M. The ribbon should be fairly wide, in most instances from a quarter to a third the total width of the container, so as REISSUED MAY 2 0 1941 to form an ample support for the slides when ejected or elevated, as will hereinafter be described. The ribbon is preferably positioned centhe lights may be turned off, or the container may be carried into the projecting room and conveniently arranged alongside the projector. The clamp is then released and swung to the dotted line position indicated at Ila, to release the ribbon, which is then grasped and a slight pull is exerted. This pull raisesthe first slide to the dotted line position indicated at 8a, where it is in position to be readily grasped and removed. A further pull raises the next slide, and so on, and

when three slides have been raised and removed, the ribbon will lie taut across the first three compartments. The clamp should now be lowered to secure the free end of the ribbon, as the fourth slide to be removed will be automatically raised or elevated by the replacement of the slide which was first removed. That is, the average projector usually holds three' slides, and when a. fourth slide is to be inserted, the first must be removed, and when removed is placed in the first compartment, where it forces the ribbon down into the compartment, thereby raising the fourth slide to position where it can be readily grasped and removed, even though it can not be seen, as the mere operation of running the fingers along the top of the container will cause them to contact the raised slide which is the next in sequence to be displayed. The entire series of slides is run through in this manner, and a mistake can hardly be made, as the insertion of the last slide to be projected or displayed automaticallyraises or elevates the next slide in the series, and so on until the entire number of slides to be displayed have been removed and reinserted.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is probably the simplest. In Fig. 5 another form is shown. The container employed is identical to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and so are the partition members. The only difference is in the arrangement of the ribbon. Upper and lower slots 20 and 2| are formed on opposite sides of the container. The ribbon 9a employed is an endless ribbon. One portion of the ribbon extends longitudinally through the container and rests on the bottom thereof. It passes through the lower slots 2|, then forms a loop 22 and 23 at the opposite ends. The upper portion of the ribbon assumes a zigzag form when the slides are placed in the compartments, just as in the structure shown in Fig. 4. With this arrangement of the ribbon, it is possible to raise the slides at either end of the container, by merely exerting a pull on the ribbon. A ring 24, or similarly shaped member, is placed in the loops 22 and 23 so that if the ribbon is drawn up tight against the end of the container it may be readily pulled away therefrom by means of the ring to form a loop which can be gripped by the fingers of the operator.

In Fig. 6 the ribbon is arranged exactly as in Fig. 5, the only difierence being that compartments such as shown at 25 and 26 are formed at opposite ends of the container, and pairs of feed rollers 21 and 28 are placed adjacent the upper slots. One roller of each pair is provided with a shaft 29 which extends through the side Walls of the box, and these shafts are provided with wheels or knobs 30 which may be grasped and rotated. The pairs of rollers 21 and 28 may be covered with rubber or similar means and are so closely fitted that the ribbon is thoroughly gripped by the rollers. Thus, if it is desired to pull the ribbon in either direction, this can be accomplished by turning the knobs 30 which in turn transmit rotary motion to the rollers 21 and 28. The shafts supporting the rollers are snugly fitted in the side walls of the container, or in bearings of a suitable character, so as to frictionally resist rotation of the rollers, this being essential as it is desirable under certain conditions to maintain a portion of the ribbon in a taut condition as shown at 3| (see Fig. 6). This position of the ribbon is assumed when automatic ejection or raising of the slides is desired by reinsertion of slides which have already been pro- Jected. For instance, if the slide indicated at 12 (see Fig. 6) is being returned, it will force the ribbon down into the compartment shown at 33. In so doing, it elevates the slide indicated at 34. If the rollers 21 and 28 rotated freely, the ribbon would be pulled from the compartment 25 and the slide 34 would not be raised, but as the rollers are frictionally held against rotation the ribbon will be pulled out of the compartment holding the slide 34 when the slide 32 is depressed, thus causing automatic elevation of one slide when another slide is being returned to its compartment.

When an individual is going to project a number of slides, he will, as previously stated, prearrange the slides in the difierent compartments so that they will be elected or raised in a certain orderly sequence. There may be slides in the container that the operator does not care to show, and in that case he may arrange the ribbon as shown in Fig. 7. That is, he will pass the ribbon over slides such as indicated at 36 and 31. When a pull is exerted on the ribbon at the end indicated at 38, the slide 39 will be raised. The next slide to be raised will be that indicated at 40, as the ribbon passes over the slides indicated at 31. Thus by arranging the ribbon in the manner shown, certain slides may be held in the container against ejection or elevation, while others will be elevated in the sequence desired.

Again, it is possible to place a plurality of slides in each compartment, as shown in Fig. 8.

While the present invention has been particularly designed and described for use in connection with slides, it is obvious that the container may be used for many other purposes such, for instance, as card index systems and for other uses. I similarly wish it understood that while certain features of the invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, nevertheless changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and the materials and finish of the structure may be such as the maker desires or varying conditions of use require.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, and a flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, said flexible member extending from end to end of the container and out of one end thereof to permit a pull to be exerted, whereby the articles in the compartments are raised upwardly in the compartments in successive order.

2. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, a flexible member extending from end to end of the container, said flexible member adapted to pass under articles in certain compartments and over articles in other compartments, and means whereby a pull may be exerted on one end of the flexible member to elevate in successive order the articles under which the flexible member passes.

3. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated. container having a plurality of partition members'extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, a flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, said flexible member extending from end to end of the container and out of one end thereof to permit a pull to be exerted and to ele- .vate at least one article from a compartment,

and means for securing one end of the flexible member with relation to the container after one article has been elevated and removed, whereby the remaining articles may be automatically raised one by one, in sequence, by replacement of articles formerly removed.

4. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, said container having upper and lower slots formed in each end thereof, and a continuous flexible member extending lengthwise through the container and the slots and forming a loop at each end of the container, one portion of the flexible member extending along a bottom portion formed in the container, and an upper portion of the flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, so that when a pull is exerted on the upper portion of either loop of the flexible memher the articles in the compartments will be raised upwardly therein.

5. A combination container and elector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, said container having upper and lower slots formed in each end thereof, a continuous flexible member extending lengthwise through the container and the slots and forming a loop at each end of the container, one portion of the flexible member exof articles formerly removed.

tending along a bottom portion formed in the container, and an upper portion of the flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, and means at each end of the con- 5 tainer for exerting a pull on the upper portion of theflexible member to raise the articles in the compartments upwardly therein.

6. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one or more articles in each compartment, said container having upper and lower slots formed in each end thereof, a continuous flexible member extending lengthwise through the container and the slots and forming a loop at each end of the container, one portion of the flexible member extending along a bottom portion formed in the container, and an upper portion of the flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, a pair of rollers journaled at each end of the container between which the upper portion of the flexible member passes and whereby the flexible member is frictionally gripped, and means for rotating either set of rollers to exert a pull on the upper portion of the flexible member.

7. A combination container and ejector comprising an elongated container having a plurality of partition members extending crosswise thereof to form a series of compartments, open at their upper ends for the reception and storage of one 85 or more articles in each compartment, a flexible member passing over the upper edge of each partition member and under the articles in the compartments, said flexible member extending from end to end of the container and out of one end 40 thereof to permit a pull to be exerted and to elevate at least one article from a compartment, said flexible member being also adapted to be held after one article has been elevated and removed, so that the remaining articles may be I automatically raised one by one by replacement F. Gamma. 

